Irish America

Irish America

In This Issue 1999

The British Army in Ireland 30 Years On

By Brian Dooley

August / September 1999

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On the 30th anniversary of the 1969 deployment of British troops in Northern Ireland, Brian Dooley looks back on the response both in Ireland and in Irish America. About 5 p.m. on Thursday, August 14, 1969, British soldiers of the Prince of Wales Own Regiment swung into Derry's William Street and began stretching barbed wire across the road, so ending the Battle of the … [Read more...] about The British Army in Ireland 30 Years On

Stairway to Heaven

Story by Jill Fergus, photographs by Peter Matthews

August / September 1999

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When I was a little girl visiting Ireland for the first time, my grandparents' farm in County Mayo was right in the shadow of Croagh Patrick -- in fact, you could see the mountain from the kitchen window. Though just 2,510 feet, it loomed in the fog and mist like Ireland's own Everest. I remember being told that Croagh Patrick, called the "reek" by locals, was a holy mountain … [Read more...] about Stairway to Heaven

JFK Superstar: The Kennedys of Hollywood

By Joseph McBride

August / September 1999

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The day Kennedy was elected president, my father, Raymond McBride, borrowed my 1928 "Al Smith for President" button and wore it to work at the Milwaukee Journal as a witty reminder of how far Irish Catholics had come in American national life. I was fortunate to have the opportunity of meeting JFK on three occasions in 1960 and 1962 because my mother, Marian, was vice-chairman … [Read more...] about JFK Superstar: The Kennedys of Hollywood

Sláinte! Magic Mushrooms!

By Edythe Preet

June / July 1999

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Of all the world's foods, those musky things known as mushrooms are the strangest. Some can be had free for the taking while others are delicacies that are worth their weight in gold. Of the 4,000 known species, most are inedible, some are tasty morsels, and a few are lethal poisons. Supermarkets stock mushrooms in the produce section, but they're not vegetables. And since they … [Read more...] about Sláinte! Magic Mushrooms!

Celtic Fire

By Tom Dunphy

June / July 1999

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Her trademark blue fiddle makes her stand out on stage, but it is when Eileen Ivers starts to draw her bow across those strings that she gets her biggest response. Her latest album draws from all her musical experiences, from Riverdance to a distinct South African influence. A huge cheer of recognition goes up from the large crowd gathered to hear Eileen Ivers and her band … [Read more...] about Celtic Fire